The Nationalist Party has called out Prime Minister Joseph Muscat after 17 persons who worked for Vitals Global Healthcare were fired.

“The PM said that Steward will keep the same conditions for all the workers at the Karin Grech, St Luke’s, and the Gozo hospitals, 17 people have now been removed,” a statement from PN Spokesperson for Health Stephen Spiteri read.

“This dubious deal was harmful to the taxpayer, patient and worker. VGH took 50 million euro from the population and all they left is a massive hole near the Gozo General Hospital. The students have remained without a medical school and 63000 people are still waiting for their first appointment,"

Steward Healthcare recently took over control of Karin Grech Hospital, St Luke's Hospital and the Gozo General Hospital, from Vitals Global Healthcare. The deal spurred quite a controversy, with the Opposition heavily criticising the whole operation.  

Opposition Leader Adrian Delia had presented a court application regarding the VGH deal, arguing that VGH had breached a number of terms and deadlines stipulated in the contract, explaining that this was the basis for his case.